3rd Thursday Alert: Call on Congress to put an end to Israel’s demolition of Palestinian homes and schools

3rd Thursday Alert: Call on Congress to put an end to Israel’s demolition of Palestinian homes and schools

By Middle East & Europe - Global Ministries on September 25, 2017

Freshly sharpened pencils, colorful paper cutouts decorating fall bulletin boards, neat rows of desks and chairs—these things come to mind when thinking of children eagerly anticipating the start of a new school year.

Many Palestinian children, however, faced a very different scene as they returned to school. The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) reported that three schools in the West Bank, “have been demolished or damaged by Israeli authorities in less than two weeks, just when children were meant to return to school from summer holidays.”

Children in the Bedouin community of Jabal Al Baba lost their only kindergarten; a primary school was demolished in Jubbet Al Dhib; and solar panels that powered a primary school in Abu Nuwar were confiscated.

“It was heart breaking to see children and their teachers turning up for their first day of school under the blazing sun, with no classrooms or anywhere to seek shelter in, while in the immediate vicinity the work to expand illegal settlements goes on uninterrupted,” said Itay Epshtain of NRC, after visiting Jubbet Al Dhib.

The NRC also reports that “some 55 schools in the West Bank are threatened with demolition and ‘stop-work’ orders by Israeli authorities,” and explains, “Israel denies the majority of Palestinian planning permit requests in Area C, thereby leaving Palestinians with no option but to reconstruct and develop without permits.”

Palestinians face similar threats of demolition to their homes and property. In a recent two-week period, demolitions resulted in the displacement of four people, including three children, according to a UN report. And more recently, Israeli authorities demolished a home in Silwan, in East Jerusalem, and homes and other structures near Jericho.

As demolitions continue unchecked, the threats become even more extreme. Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman reportedly said that the defense ministry was “preparing for the evacuation of Palestinian communities built without authorization,” and that “work was being done to implement plans to evacuate the Palestinian villages of Sussia in the South Hebron Hills and Khan al-Ahmar near Ma’aleh Adumim within a few months.”

In response, the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem sent a letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu and other Israeli officials calling on them to “refrain from the human rights violations that will result from demolishing these communities,” and warning that “these actions would constitute a war crime committed at your instruction and under your responsibility, and for which you would bear personal liability.”

Demolitions, and the threat of demolition, cause untold suffering for Palestinians and undermine the prospects of a just and lasting peace for all.

Contact your elected officials today and ask them to urge the State Department to firmly appeal to the Israeli government to stop demolishing Palestinian property. Ask them to insist that US military aid be conditioned on Israel’s compliance with US law and policy, including respect for human rights.

September 17-24, 2017 is the World Week of Peace in Palestine and Israel, sponsored by the World Council of Churches. For information and resources, click here.

**********Please feel free to use this sample letter:

Dear Senator/Representative,

I am writing to ask you to urge the State Department to firmly appeal to the Israeli government to stop demolishing Palestinian homes, schools, and other property. Furthermore, the US government should insist that US military aid be conditioned on Israel’s compliance with US law and policy, including respect for human rights.

I was particularly concerned to learn about destruction and damage to Palestinian schools, just as the new school year was starting. The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) reported that three schools in the West Bank, “have been demolished or damaged by Israeli authorities in less than two weeks, just when children were meant to return to school from summer holidays.”

Palestinians face similar threats of demolition to their homes and other property.

Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman reportedly said recently that the defense ministry was “preparing for the evacuation of Palestinian communities built without authorization,” and that “work was being done to implement plans to evacuate the Palestinian villages of Sussia in the South Hebron Hills and Khan al-Ahmar near Ma’aleh Adumim within a few months.” In response, the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem sent a letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu and other Israeli officials calling on them to “refrain from the human rights violations that will result from demolishing these communities,” and warning that “these actions would constitute a war crime committed at your instruction and under your responsibility, and for which you would bear personal liability.”

While the Israeli authorities often cite lack of permits when demolishing Palestinian property, as the NRC explains, “Israel denies the majority of Palestinian planning permit requests in Area C, thereby leaving Palestinians with no option but to reconstruct and develop without permits.”

As a person of faith who cares deeply about the welfare of both peoples, Israelis and Palestinians, I am concerned that demolitions, and the threat of demolition, cause untold suffering for Palestinians and undermine the prospects of a just and lasting peace for all. I hope that you will ask the State Department to raise these concerns with the Israeli government.